Justin Tuck (r.) says he believes Victor Cruz will be at the Giants' offseason workout program.

Justin Tuck knows that Victor Cruz would have his reasons for not showing up in East Rutherford on Monday, when the Giants begin their voluntary offseason workout program. But the Giants' veteran defensive end also thinks that Cruz should - and will - show up.

Speaking at an NFL Play 60 event in Staten Island on Thursday, Tuck said Cruz has given him "no reason" to believe he won't be in attendance next week. The receiver and the only NFL team he's ever known have been at odds over a long-term deal for more than a year, which has led to speculation that Cruz may not attend the team's offseason workouts.

But Tuck said Cruz would help himself by showing up.

"To me, I think the biggest way things get settled is to be there, just in good faith, I guess," Tuck said. "But I can't answer questions for Victor. He has to do what is best for him."

Thus far, Cruz's tenuous contract negotiations have not spilled onto the field. The receiver and the Giants have been trying to hammer a deal out since early last season, with little tangible result. With the two sides still far apart on money last month, the Giants placed a first-round tender ($2.87 million) on the restricted free agent receiver. That tender allows the Giants to match any other team's offer to Cruz, and if they decline to match that offer, they will be awarded the team's first-round pick.

It's a steep price to pay, and that's helped prevent other teams from offering Cruz a lucrative long-term deal. Cruz has yet to sign his tender, though, and in February, he couldn't rule out the possibility of a holdout in an interview with the Daily News. Cruz is seeking a deal that averages around $10 million per year, and he turned down a deal worth $7 million annually.

Cruz also recently swapped agents, signing on with CAA's Tom Condon, who also represents Eli Manning and has maintained a good working relationship with the Giants.

None of that prevented Cruz from training with Eli Manning this week, joining the Giants quarterback - along with big-play weapon Hakeem Nicks and newly signed Louis Murphy - for some workouts at Duke University.

Not that Tuck would be worried if Cruz didn't show up next week. He indicated that having Cruz for the regular season is key, and the Giants have plenty of work to do before then. The team must still figure out how to replace veteran pass-rusher Osi Umenyiora, who signed on with the Atlanta Falcons late last month.

Umenyiora, who had very public contract battles with GM Jerry Reese in recent years, had a middling 2012, but Tuck, who is close friends with Umenyiora, said he will be missed.

Victor Cruz joins Eli and Peyton Manning for workouts at Duke this week.

(Gerry Broome/AP)

"He's an All-Pro player," Tuck said. "You don't just go to the market and get those ... Losing him is going to be a huge burden."

Tuck said it would take "a collective effort" to replace Umenyiora, and he added that he had little problem with his old friend's first statements as a Falcon. Shortly after signing with Atlanta, Umenyiora proclaimed that the Falcons were the most talented team he'd ever seen, a strange statement for somebody who won two Super Bowls as a Giant.

But Tuck said that is "definitely not a shot at the Giants."

"We've talked many times about how talent doesn't win games," Tuck said, almost taking his own shot at the talented Falcons. "It doesn't. I know what he (Umenyiora) meant."

Tuck wouldn't say what Umenyiora meant, of course, but he does seem to hope that Cruz's own contract stalemate has a much happier ending this season.

"Hopefully, when it is all said and done, he is doing the salsa in a Giants uniform next season," Tuck said. "That's all I worry about."

TUCK OPEN TO JACOBS RETURN

Former Giants runner Brandon Jacobs has recently expressed interest in returning to Big Blue after a tumultuous season with the 49ers and Tuck said he would "love" to have Jacobs back.

"Why not? As long as both sides feel it's beneficial to the football team," Tuck said. "We've had a lot of great years with Brandon, too. I'm not opposed to it ni any regard. But that's a decision for Jerry Reese as far as how he's building this team moving forward But yeah, I would love to see Brandon back."